Residential Services

Organic Recycling

EDCO’s New Organics Recycling Program will Collect Food Scraps and Yard Waste Mixed Together in Your Green Cart

Automated Organics Collection

Residential customers receive one GREEN 96-gallon organics cart. Use your green cart to separate landscape waste, food scraps, and other organic materials for collection each week on your scheduled service day and set out by 6 a.m. or the night before.

96-Gallon Cart

appx. 35.75" x 29.75" x 43.25"

64-Gallon Cart

appx. 31.75" x 24.25" x 41.75"

32-Gallon Cart

appx. 24.25" x 19.75" x 37.50"

Request Additional Carts

Two additional green carts are available at no extra cost. Residents requiring a fourth 96-gallon cart or more may request additional green carts for a nominal monthly fee.

Residents can request additional recycling carts at no extra cost.

Request Additional Carts

Recyclable Organics Includes
  • grass clippings
  • brush
  • weeds
  • hedge trimmings
  • branches
  • leaves
  • palm fronds
  • ice plant (in small amounts only due to weight)
  • ivy
  • flowers
  • Halloween pumpkins
  • Christmas trees (NO flocked trees)
  • food scraps
  • food-soiled paper

Place recyclable organics directly into your designated green cart. Do not use any kind of plastic bags (including certified compostable or biodegradable bags) for any type of green waste, food waste, or other organics collection or disposal, as they contaminate the Anaerobic Digester! All organic material must be placed loosely inside the green cart for collection. Paper bags are acceptable.

Please do not place any of the following materials in your green cart:

  • No plastic bags.
  • No trash or hazardous waste.
  • No animal waste.
  • No dirt, rocks, asphalt, concrete, sand, etc.
  • No treated or lead-based painted wood or lumber.

Organic Waste

Food scraps

Organic waste is a renewable natural resource, and it mainly comes from yard and kitchen waste from homes and food waste, and scraps from industrial and commercial operations.

Mandatory recycling of organic waste is the next step to achieving California’s Zero Waste goals. EDCO has constructed the first state-of-the-art, advanced technology Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Facility in San Diego County, capable of producing renewable natural gas that will serve the region’s needs.

Anaerobic digestion is an efficient and environmentally sustainable technology that can significantly contribute to organic waste management in California. Capturing and reducing the amount of methane released into the atmosphere is critical in ensuring a safe and healthy environment for ourselves and future generations.

EDCO’s Anaerobic Digestion Facility

Since 1967, family-owned and operated EDCO has had a long-standing commitment to reducing environmental impacts through innovation. EDCO’s state-of-the-art AD Facility began serving customers in early 2021, assisting your community to fully comply with State Mandates and keep us On the Road to Zero Waste.

EDCO Anaerobic Digestion Facility

AD is the natural process in which microorganisms break down organic materials such as food waste, green waste, fats, oils, and greases. Anaerobic digestion happens in closed spaces with no oxygen and converts organic material into Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and fertilizer.

Recycling organics is easy and convenient with EDCO’s commingled organics recycling program. EDCO has expanded the source-separated green waste collection to include recycling food waste. The service allows customers to place food scraps in the same container as green waste. EDCO’s AD Facility is a foundation for your community to achieve State mandates, including AB 1826, AB 1594, and SB 1383, which are directly related to organics recycling in the State of California.

EDCO’s Recycling Videos

To learn more about EDCO’s new AD Facility and Organics Recycling Program and how they will significantly impact the future of organic waste, please watch our informative videos.

Why Recycle Food Waste?

Diagram of food waste recycling process

Organic waste accounts for over 40% of California’s waste stream material. Organic material cannot break down when buried in a landfill, as it would in nature or a compost pile, because it decomposes without oxygen, releasing methane gas into the atmosphere. Organic material (food scraps and yard waste) will be recycled when placed in the green carts. It will be transported to EDCO’s AD Facility, where it will be converted into renewable natural gas and fertilizer.

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What Will Go in the Green Cart?

Below are just a few examples of what will be able to be placed in your green organics cart.

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Food Scraps

Fruit, vegetables, meat, bones, dairy, eggshells, prepared food

Food scraps

Food-Soiled Paper

Napkins, tea bags, paper plates, coffee filters

Pieces of food-soiled paper

Yard Waste

Plants, leaves, branches, grass

Yard waste

Papaya and orange fruit scraps

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What Can You do Now?

In the United States alone, a shocking 40% of food is uneaten, wasted, and discarded. We, as consumers, are the largest producers of food waste, believe it or not, exceeding grocery stores and restaurants combined! So, the smallest changes add up and make a huge difference. San Diego Food System Alliance is leading an initiative across San Diego County to reduce food waste and increase food donations to people. By visiting their website, at sdfsa.org/savethefoodsd/, residents can find information on food recovery throughout the county, food donation guides, and resources.

Request a Kitchen Caddie

Residents can request a Kitchen Caddie to conveniently transfer food scraps from the kitchen to the organics cart or compost pile.Kitchen Caddie

Request a Kitchen Caddie

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